Israel must be made accountable for the genocide it is perpetrating upon the Palestinian people. We are seeing the appalling escalation of the ongoing brutal bombardment and now starvation tactics that are being used upon a civilian population in Gaza. We are hearing desperate appeals for help from aid agencies and the UN, and we are seeing so many horrific deaths, including of children and civilians, yet Israel appears to act with impunity. The Taoiseach has described the Israeli actions as war crimes. Those are welcome words from him but the Government is not acting sufficiently as if the actions were war crimes. We need to see more pressure brought to bear on Israel and to do all in our power as a country to bring pressure to bear through economic sanctions, the passage of the occupied territories Bill and cultural, sporting, artistic and academic boycotts.

Like the Deputy, I strongly condemn the continuing Israeli military operation, which has brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza. The images we are seeing are truly horrific. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic; it is hell on earth. It has been over 50 days since food, medicines and other essential supplies have been allowed to enter Gaza. Israel’s continuing humanitarian blockade is pushing Gaza closer to a hunger crisis. As the Taoiseach said yesterday, it is wrong in principle and law to inflict hunger and suffering on a civilian population, whatever the circumstances, and this behaviour clearly constitutes a war crime. It is also wholly unacceptable to contemplate the mass displacement of people in Gaza or to talk about a permanent occupation. It is not only an affront to decency and to international law; history tells us it offers no solution. Today, Ireland, along with five other countries, issued a joint statement expressing our grave concern about the report that Israel plans to expand its operations. We call on the Israeli authorities to show restraint.